Department of Emergency Management

The bachelor of science degree in Emergency Management (EAM) was established in 1997. Arkansas Tech University was one of the first institutions to offer a baccalaureate degree in this specialized and rapidly growing academic discipline. In 2006, the program became the first degree program to receive accreditation on a national as well as international level from the Foundation of Higher Education Accreditation in Emergency Management. In view of the interest in this degree from a wide geographic area including foreign countries, the degree is also available online as an electronic degree that was approved by the Higher Learning Commission in 2005. The program offers a master of science degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security for students seeking an advanced degree in the discipline.

The Department of Emergency Management at Arkansas Tech University is dedicated to:

Increasing learning and knowledge by providing outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service for the university and community.

Sustaining a department that supports faculty and students in their professional and intellectual growth.

Educating students to become leaders in the emergency management discipline and to make a positive contribution to the field.

Interest in emergency management and its importance from the global perspective have increased following recent events related to natural and technological hazards, terrorism, and other Homeland Security issues. The degree supports advancement opportunities for career professionals in a broad range of discipline areas as well as appealing to students seeking careers in emergency management in both the private and public sectors.

The curriculum in the EAM degree is based on the following core competencies for emergency managers:

The curriculum requires all students to complete 30 hours of EAM core courses which include 12 hours of credit for externship/internship experiences. This focus of the program is designed to build a solid foundation in emergency management concepts, competencies, and demonstrated applications. Additionally, students are required to complete 15 hours in an administrative core and 21 hours in an interdisciplinary core, which can include courses in both the natural and social sciences. Students have the option of addressing the interdisciplinary core by completing a minor in an area approved by the advisor as long as the total coursework equals 21 hours.

EAM Core (30 hours)

The student will select with the advisor’s recommendation 30 hours of credit from the EAM Core courses. EAM 1003, EAM 1013, EAM 4023 and EAM 4033 are required classes for all students. In addition, all students must take 12 hours (EAM 3206 and EAM 4106) from the Practical Applications in addition to the 30 hours. Courses used in other categories, i.e. EAM Core, Administrative, or Interdisciplinary may not be counted in another category.

Practical Applications (12 hours)

Administrative Core1 (15 hours)

The student will take ENGL 2053 Technical WritingT and select with the advisor’s recommendation 12 hours of credit from the following courses which are currently offered within each departmental area.

BLAW 2033 Legal Environment of BusinessTBUAD 2003 Business Information Systems or COMS 1003 Introduction to Computer Based SystemsTBUAD 2053 Business Statistics or SOC 2053 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences or MATH 2163 Introduction to Statistical MethodsTCOMS 1333 Web Publishing ICOMS 1403 Orientation to Computing, Information, and TechnologyCOMS 2003 Microcomputer Applications HA 4113/RP 4113 Personnel Management in Parks, Recreation, and Hospitality AdministrationJOUR 2133 Introduction to Mass CommunicationJOUR 4033 Community JournalismJOUR 4083 Computer Mediated CommunicationJOUR 4123 Laws of CommunicationPS 3023 Professional CommunicationsPS 3133 Applied Principles of Personnel ManagementSPH 1003 Introduction to Speech-CommunicationTSPH 2003 Public SpeakingSPH 2173 Business and Professional SpeakingSPH 3003 Interpersonal CommunicationSPH 3013 Intercultural CommunicationSPH 3033 Interviewing Principles and PracticesSPH 3073 Group CommunicationSPH 4063 Organizational CommunicationSPH 4153 Persuasive Theory and Audience Analysis1Students must address any prerequisites for these coursesTDesignates a block of courses that would provide for a seamless transfer into this program if equivalent courses are taken at another college or university

Interdisciplinary Core1,2 (21 hours)

The student will select with the advisor’s recommendation 21 hours of credit from the following courses which are currently offered within each departmental area.

Minor Emergency Management

The minor in Emergency Management is designed to provide additional breadth for students majoring in related programs in the field of crisis and disaster management. The minor will require 18 hours of coursework emphasizing content in areas of human and physical consequences of natural and technological disasters along with mitigation procedures. Students may wish to minor in Emergency Management from disciplines listed in the Interdisciplinary Core such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Science, Criminal Justice, and Journalism.

*EAM 1003 Living in a Hazardous Environment
*EAM 1013 Aim and Scope of Emergency Management
Twelve hours of upper division EAM Core Classes
*Required for the Bachelor’s degree in EAM